Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Devangar Matrimonial

Devangas are of Brahmanical origin. They were also called as Deva Brahmana in ancient yugas.They were refered to as "devanga daiveeka brahmans" during early ages. They are Prakrut Brahmins (meaning brahmins by birth). Devanga belong to Smartha Brahmins, one who follows Advaitha Vedantha school of Hindu Philosophy.

There were also famous Devang kings like Bhatta Raja, Boja Raja of Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh, India). Many were also warriors during Vijayanagar times, according to warrior stones found in Hampi, Karnataka. Their native state was the kingdom of Ujjain where even to this day they form the major community. Their chief deity is Chowdeshwari (Chamundeshwari).

As is typical with other castes, Devangas became an endogamous unit of weavers(1), either due to caste rules or due to typical social conditions of India.

[edit] Myth of origin

Devangas trace the origin of their weaving tradition to a sage called Devala Maharshi. According to tradition, Devala Maharishi was the first person to weave the cotton cloth and gave it to Lord Shiva, who up until this time had been using animal skin. When Devala was taking the cloth to the Lord Shiva, demons came to attack him. Goddess Chowdeshwari (Chamundeshwari, a form of Durga,a warrior Goddess created by the Gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra, to fight the demon Mahishasura), perched on a lion, fought and vanquished the demons so that Devala Maharishi could present the cloth to Lord Shiva.

[edit] Sects

Devanga was originally divided into two groups, the Gandadavaru and Namadavaru. There are the Saivite and Vaishnavite division among Devangas.

source: Rigveda Devanga (Div am ga) was the first ever Bhramin who (OHM) comes to this world to give clothes to human beings Thiruvalluvar in his eighth poem says one cannot reach PARAMAPATHA until one surrendered to this Bhramin(OHM).

Even to this day, the Devangas are either Saivites or Vaishnavites. In Devanga marriages, bride and groom should not belong to the same sect (Saivite or Vaishnavite). Gothras are clearly marked to belong to either of the two sects. Every marriage alliance thus unites bride and groom from two different Gothras.

For finding origin we have to explore RIG VEDA and history of Gayatri Peeta at Hampi from Vedic age which was started by Lord Shiva to spread DEVALA Dharma throughout the world as per Sreepathy Panditha. Moreover the Pasupatha of Laguleesa emerges and more Hindu divisions like Kasmira Shaiva were created by so many Saints based different areas.

[edit] Trivia

Devangas, along with other weaver communities, held good appointments during Vijayanagar King Krishnadevaraya's rule.

North Karnataka Devangas are primarily cotton or Khan weavers, whereas south Karnataka Devangas primarily manufacture silk sarees, including both pure and art silk. This is due to their association with Sourashtrams (primarily silk traders) when they were in Mysore. It was also said that Saurashtrians migrated from Saurashtra, part of Gujarat/Maharashtra, and settled down in the places where Devangas settled due to their business relationships. Even today we can notice the presence of Saurashtrians in most of the places where Devangas had settled, especially in Madurai and Salem.

Every one of the warrior sub sect have a sword in their homes. After the decline of Vijayanagar empire they settled in all parts of Tamil Nadu. Devanga Literacy in Tamil Nadu is High about 75% of them are doctors, Engineers and also in Leading Government Positions.

Some Lingayats live as Lingayats within the Devanga community and also maintain separate identity by having links with Lingayats of Karnataka. In North Karnataka Devanga caste divided into two groups 1.Kulachaar Devanga 2. Shivachar Devanga. The difference between these two group is only in Wearing the YAJNOPAVEET(JANIWAAR)by Kulachaar's and "SHIVADAAR WITH LINGA" by Shivachars. Both groups worships only goddess "SRI BANASHANKARI" of Badami

Food habits of Devangas also change from place to place. Devangas are vegetarians.

The tradition of Yajñopavītam - the "Sacred Thread" among the brahmans was derived from devangas.